Open side clevis



Aug. 12, 1941.

A. A. HCCHER 2,252,566

OPEN SIDE GLEVIS Filed Aug. 6, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1941. A. A. HOCHER- 2,252,566

OPEN SIDE CLEVIS Filed Aug. 6, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 12, 1941 UNITED: sures PATENT OFFICE Andrew A., Hocher, Etna 1 a, assignor .to Hubhard and Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania- Application August 6, 1940, Serial No. 351,602

16 Claims The present invention relates to clevises, and more particularly to thimlble-type clevises adaptedffor the deadending of insulated lines to suspension insulators. V I

Clevises of the general type herein set forth have been. heretofore known and extensively employed for deadending and other types of service. Insofar as I am aware, howevensuch clevises have had certainobjectionable" features, particularly with respect to undue wearing .orj abrading action on the insulated lines, cables, etc, employed therewith and/or on the insulation thereof. is due, at least in large part, to the fact that these clevises asopreviously produced inevitably contained surface roughnesses and irregularities which, constantly rubbing against the line, cable, etc., weakened the same to such an extent as to shorten its life unduly, make it useless or dangerous or actually to cause the same to hreak The loss of insulation also caused electrical difliculties as will be appreciated.

While it has been recognized that suchsurface roughnesses did exist and were objectionable no satisfactory means of overcoming the same has been proposed. The clevisesare made i-n large numbers and it wouldrtherefore, be totally impracticable toattempt t'ofinish the same by any busi g, smoothing or similar operation, not only because this would be expensive and time-consuming but because such would adverselyaffect the galvanizing or other protective coating with which the clevises are usually provided.

one of the main objects of the present' invention isto produce a clevis which is f'r'ee fromv the objections 6i prior' cle'vises and which has further advantages peculiar no-itself H Another object of' the invention resides in iorrn in'gdead-end'iiig clevises and clevises of that type out of pressed steel so as to, produce a; product substantially free frem surfgace roughnesses and irregularities, thus providing a clelvis' in effect, lengthensthe useful life of insul ate'd rises, games, etc. e e W e A further-object oi theinventioh is to produce an open side clevis which has new and highly advantageous structural and physical properties and characteristics and; which, therefore'constituted a definite advance in thisart. I

Other and further objects and advantages will be appreciated by those skilled in this art or will be understood or p'oin'ted out hereinalter.

Inthe accompanying' drawings, in which like numerals designate corresponding partsy I Figure I is a perspective View oi ail open side clevis responding to my present invention and constituting a desirable embodiment thereof;

Fig; 1a is a reduced plan view of the clevis of Fig. 1' from the opposite side thereof;

Fig. 2 1s an end elevational View of the clevis of Fig.

1 3 is an edge view partly in elevation and partly in section of the clevis of Figs. 1 and 2;

l is s plan View of a modified form of clev'is'; l V

is anedge View of the clevis of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of another modified form oiclevis;

Fig. 7 is an end view of the clevis thimble of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8- isa fragmentary detail of the clevis support prior to assembly;

Fig Qis a plan View of a further modified form of the invention;

Fig. 10; is a plan view of still another modified forth of the invention;

Fig. is an edge View of the clevis of Fig. 10;

Fig. 1 2 is an end elevational view, p'artlyin section, or the clevis of Figs. 10 and 11 and taken on line XlI-XII of Fig. 11; e I

Fig. 1-3 is a plan View of a further modification of the invention; r

Fig, 14 is a plan View of a still further modification of the invention;

Fig. 15 is a plan viewof an additional form of clevis responding to my present invention; and F ig. 16 is a plan View of still another form of clevis in accordance with my present invention.

Cl evises of the type herein involved are especially useful for dead-ending insulated lines, cables, conductors, etc., to suspension insulators and are most commonly mounted so as to connect directly to an insulator stud. The particular form of insulator and its mounting is immaterial to the present invention and does not per se form a part hereof. Clevises of the kind here described may also be employed for other, similar or analogous purposes and, therefore, it is to be understood that the present invention is not restricted solely to dead-ending clevises. They may, for example, be used as angular direction changers for cables, conductors, insulated lines and the like and may be mounted upon poles, cross arms, buildings or other supports, depending upon the particular requirements for any given type or kind of service.

All the forms of clevis forming a part of the present invention are composed of pressed steel,

1 prferahly galvanized orotherWise provided with a protective coating to lessen or obviat corro sion and surface deterioration. Pressed steel clevises are characterized by the fact that they are free or substantially free of surface roughnesses such as those so often encountered in connection with cast clevises or clevises made from other materials and/or by other procedures than by forming from pressed steel. Pressed steel clevises as here described are characterized further by great strength and resistance to the various strains to which these products are subjected during their normal use. Pressed steel clevises are less apt to become deformed by or give way under such stresses and are generally capable of withstanding higher or greater stresses for longer periods of time than other types of clevises. Pressed steel clevises of the present character are, therefore, capable of being used under conditions which make impracticable or preclude the use of the older forms of clevises. Their service, in any event, is materially longer and more eflicient.

The various forms of clevis herein described and claimed are also characterized by the fact that they are composed of two main parts, herein for convenience termed a thimble and a-support. The term thimble is used to designate the circular or substantially circular part of the clevis, and the term support is employed to designate the member or members which form a connection between the thimble and an insulator or other member to which the same is or may be attached. The thimble and support are connected to each other as will be hereinafter set forth.

Referring first to Figs, 1 to 3, inclusive, in detail, it will be observed that the thimble I is substantially concavo-convex or U-shaped in cross section, concave side outward, and extends throughout the major part of a full circle of 360. This thimble is characterized by smooth surfaces and lack of sharp bends, angles, corners, etc., and, therefore, is well adapted to carry out the objects and purposes hereinabove outlined. Thus too when protectively coated the ultimate article is correspondingly free since most coatings faithfully reproduce underlying irregularities. The thimble is preferablyalthough not necessarilymade in one piece which, as shown, is formed with two radially inwardly projecting lugs II which form the termini of the adjacent ends of the thimble connecting with the body I0 thereof by the transition portions I2.

As will be more fully understood from Figs. 2 and 3 taken together, the distal, right-angularly extending ends II' of the lugs II extend through an opening I3 in the'saddle portion I4 of the sup-. port member I5, being spread outwardly, cotterpin fashion, to maintain and lock them in position. The thimble member III as a U-shaped cut-away portion It in one edge thereof substantially diametrically opposite the lugs II for a purpose to be hereinafter explained,

The support member I5 is likewise preferably, although not necessarily, made in one piece and is a pressed steel stamping or pressing like the thimble portion Illalready described. The support member has a saddle portion I4 which unitarily connects a substantial proportion of the adjacent edges of the arcuate arms II, one end of each of which is provided with an opening I8 by means of which the arms are adapted to be connected to an insulator or other member (not shown) through the medium of suitable fastening instrumentalitiessuch as the bolt I9 and cotterpin 20. As will be noted from Fig. 3 in particular, thearms I! are semi-circular in general configuration and somewhat converge from bolt I9 to lugs II. They are provided with an extending tapered seat portion ZI which contacts with the side of the thimble I0 and which has a portion 22 thereof peened or otherwise forced or bent over into the U-shaped cut-away portion I6 hereinabove mentioned. This provides a firm seat and an interlock between the two members. The connection may be supplemented by spot welding or any other welding or uniting operation.

As already indicated, the lugs II extend through an aperture I3 in the saddle portion I 4 of the support member I5 and are bent outwardly (see Figs. 1a. and 2) to lock the thimble and support members together and thus the two stated members are connected at diametrically opposite points of the thimble member I0, producing an unusually strong and strain-resistant device which is structurally and functionally superior to any prior clevis, so far as I am aware. For purposes of even further strengthening the device and where there is no objection to a permanent assembly, I point out that welding may be resorted to at all points of contact such as where the arms abut the convex side of the thimble and where the lugs meet the arm ends and saddle. Optionally, I may solder or employ other modes of increasing the areas of contact and strengthening the connections as will be understood by those skilled in this art wherever such is desired.

In Fig. 1 it will be noted that I have illustrated in dotted lines the position of a conductor, cable, etc. 23 when applied to my new clevis, and one end of this member 23 may be suitably secured to the member adjacent the clevis by a suitable dead-end clamp or the like 24, the particular details of which are not a part of the present invention since any suitable form of clamp will be satisfactory. In the illustration I have shown two plates 24a grooved on their adjacent faces for the reception of the member 23 and bolted together at 24?).

The form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, has been found by me to answer admirably the objects and purposes of this invention, but it is to be understood that the same is exemplary and not restrictive since within the spirit and scope hereof other specific forms of the invention may be devised without departing from the principles involved. In Figs. 4 to 16, inclusive, I have illustrated several further examples of clevises which differ in details from the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 3. In order that the invention may be more fully appreciated, I now describe in some detail several modifications of the invention which exemplify the versatility and range of application of that invention.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, it will be understood that the form of the invention there illustrated dilfers primarily from the clevis of Fig. 1 in that the projecting lugs Ila of the thimble Illa project laterally outwardly rather than radially inwardly. The saddle portion Ma of the support member I5a is longer and more tapered and projects somewhat beyond the thimble Illa so that the aperture I3a in such saddle portion registers with the said lugs IIa, the distal ends of which are bent outwardly or over the material of the saddle portion (cotter-pin fashion) so as to provide a joint or connection of the same type as in Fig. 1 but in a different location. Otherwise this form of the invention is substantially identical with that of Fig. 1, as will be noted from the use of the same numerals, but due to the difierences in the locations of certain of the parts more or greater space is provided interiorly of the thimble Illa and thus for some purposes serves where'thel clevis of Fig. 1 might not meet spatial requirements. As in Fig. 1, thetapered end 2| of the saddle portion of the support member I511 may be spot Welded or otherwise suitably secured to the thimble Illa.

The modification of Figs. 6-to'8, inclusive, difiers from Fig. 1 chiefly in the manner of connecting'the thimble lflb to the support member I 512'. Inthis particular case the thimble is a substantially complete circle of 360 and the same is slotted at 25 and 26 adjacent the point where the ends of the thimble abut. The saddle portion I I?) of the support member I5b is provided at one end with the initially straight but somewhat converging lugs IIb, the balance of the support member being substantially as already described. In assembling this form of clevis, the

lugs I Ib are inserted into the slots 25,26 and then peened over underneath or otherwise bent, deformed or pressed inwardly or together as shown at I Ib in Fig. 6 so as to provide a secure interlock. This form of invention has advantages which will be appreciated, particularly as to simplicity and ease of assembly and disassembly. The bent-over lugs may, if. desired, be addie tionally secured by spot welding, soldering or in any other suitable Way.

In Fig. 9 I have illustrated a very simple form of the invention wherein the thimble Ilic is' a perfect circle, the ends Illc' abutting in such manner as to produce a member extending" a full 360. The saddle portion I40 of the support member I50 is cut off substantially at right angles may and preferably is likewise welded to produce an unusually simple but extremely strong and effective clevis.

Figs. 10, 11 and 12 illustrate a clevis wherein ready accessibility for disassembly and repair is provided. In this form of clevis the thimble Ifid is somewhat less than 360 as shown so that the adjacent ends IIld of the thimble Illd are somewhat spaced apart. The material of the thimble is struck up on the inner conVeX side thereof at points adjacent each such end Hid so as to'provide a pair of pockets or passages Illdf through which the arigularly out-turned lugs I Id of the support member I5d are disposed. The extreme ends of these lugs are: turned upwardlyan'd inwardly (see Fig. 10) after assembly, thereby providing a simple but efiective interlock which provides for service under conditions somewhat different from the other clevises so far. described. In Fig. 10 also it will be-observedthat the tapered end 2Id of saddle portion. Md. projects'through a U-shaped struck-up portion-Md in the side of the diametrically opposite. portion of thimble member Illd. The extreme end may or may not be turned downwardly and/or inwardly to increase the interlocking effect, depending upon the desirability of ready disassembly. Figs. 11 and 12 aid. in. an understanding of the disposition and relationship of the parts which otherwise are like those of Fig. 1.

In Fig. 13 the arrangement is somewhat similar to' Fig. 10 but the lugs He of the saddle portion Me ofthetsu'pportmember I56 are riveted at I Ie! to the adjacent (spaced) ends of thethimble I0e, andhence do not require th rovision of the struck-up portions I lld characteristic of the clevis of Fig. 10. Likewise th clevis of Fig. 13 avoids the necessity for further turning or bending operations onthe lugs as well as eliminating the necessity for the striking-up operation itself. In'this' clevis the saddle portion Me of the support member I5e is shown as being somewhat wider and sturdier, and the end surfaces Ille' of the spaced thimble ends are shown as being parallelinstead of divergent as in Fig. 10. The tapered end 2| of the saddle portion is like that of Fig. 1.

Fig. 14 illustrates a variant of the clevis of Fig. 13 and. for certain or special purposes is preferable. In Fig. 14 the' thimble I0) is of D-shape,

I although the ends Inf of this modified thimble are spaced as'in Fig. 13. The lugs I If of the shortened saddle portion I41 are welded to the flattened surface of the inner portion of the D-shape'd thimble as shown. It is, of course, to be understood that instead of welding rivets may be employed as in-FigqlS, in which connection also the Welded connection of Fig. 14 may be equally well employed in place of the rivets of Fig. 13 in the" latter structure. The clevis of Fig.

. 14 has somewhat different proportions and stress resistances, but basically is the same as the other forms of clevis herein described.

Fig. 15 illustrates-a further modified form of clevis in which the extreme (spaced) 'ends I By of the. thimble l flg are provided with struck-up portions IUg similar to those designated at Illd" Fig. 10, although both the position and the actual structural arrangement is appreciably different as will be noted. The saddle portion My ofth'e support member IE9 is provided at one end with two opposed L-shaped lugs I4g' which, when the support member is first produced, extend out at an angle to the support member, as will. be apparent. In assembling this form of clevis, the lugs' Mg' are forced toward each other through short arcuate' paths until they project through the struck-up end portions Illg" to assume the ultimate (full line) position illustrated in Fig. 15, it beinlg understood that the extreme ends may be bent over either upwardly or downwardly to increase the effectiveness of the interlock if so desired.

The opposite end ZIg of the saddle portion Mg may either be as in Figs. 1 to 9, inclusive, or the more pronouncedly triangular end of such member may be more or less countersunk in a corresponding depression or cut-away portion IEg in the side of theclevis thimble diametrically opposite to the struck-up portions Illg aforesaid, it being understood that no undue weakening of the thimble isthereby efi'ected nor is the recessing orcutting out of such nature as would in any sense result in a two-piece thimble. The other parts are substantially as previously described.

Finally, in Fig. 15 I have illustrated a clevis in which the more or less U-shaped terminal lugs llh on one end of thesaddle portion Mh of support member I fih project upwardly through slots or apertures 2! provided in the convex portion of l; the thimble Hlh adjacent the slightly inturned or straight as indicated at 'IIh but that for assemblyand interlocking purposes the same are bent I into the U-shape shown and: described. The tablike reduced end Hit of the saddle portion i471 of support member I571. projects through a struck-up portion 16h on the side of the thimble in a manner similar to portions Hid of Figs. and 11. Otherwise the parts are the same as previously described.

One or more of the above clevises is capable of satisfactorily solving any problem which may arise in connection with the employment of a clevis of the general type herein described. The particular form employed in any particular setup depends upon the circumstances involved in a particular installation. The clevises described lend themselves to inexpensive production, to long and satisfactory operation and to freedom from failures and difficulties encountered in connection with the use of prior clevises. The clevises herein described and claimed are all characterized by the fact that they are made of pressed steel and are therefore smooth and unusually free of any surface irregularities which might cause undue wear or deterioration to the conductors, cables and the like members contacting therewith, especially in connection with insulated members, in which connection the insulation is not destroyed or removed prematurely when any one of my present clevises is utilized.

In setting forth the above embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I may make other and further omissions, additions, substitutions and alterations within the scope of the appended claims, which are rather deemed to define the metes and bounds of my present invention. While I have described the various clevises as being made of pressed steel, I am not limited as to the particular composition or analysis of that material as it is clear that a wide variety thereof may actually be used, depending upon factors well understood in this field such as cost, appearance, resistance to corrosion and longevity. Any or all such materials may be suitably coated as by galvanizing operations, although it is to be understood that any approved corrosionand abrasion-resistant coating may be employed whether of a metallic or non-metallic nature, in which latter connection suitable enamels, plastics or paint-like compositions can be employed. The expression open side clevis as used in the claims is intended to cover all the products hereinbefore described as well as the various modifications thereof which fall within th purview hereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A clevis of the character described which comprises a thimble of concavo-convex section with its annular groove on the outside, a support member contacting with said thimble at a plurality of spaced points and adapted for connection to an operatively associable member and means for securing said support member to said thimble at the contact points to produce a clevis which will withstand strains to which it may be subject-ed during use, said thimble being provided with a pair of lugs which are adapted to pass through an aperture provided for that purpose in the contiguous portion of said support member.

'2. A clevis of the character described which comprises a thimble of concave-convex section with its annular groove on the outside, a support member contacting with said thimble at a plurality of spaced points and adapted for connection to an operatively associable member and means for securing said support member to said thimble at the contact points to produce a clevis which will withstand strains to which it may be subjected during use, said support member being provided with lugs adapted to pass through openings formed in the contiguous portion of said thimble.

3. A pressed steel clevis of the character described which comprises a thimble of concavoconvex section with its annular groove on the outside, a support member contacting with said thimble at a plurality of spaced points and adapted for connection to an operatively associable member and means for securing said support member to said thimble at the contact points to produce a clevis which will withstand strains to which it may be subjected during use, said thimble and support member being provided with cooperating portions which form a mechanical interlock therebetween.

4, A clevis of the character described which comprises a thimble of concavo-convex section with its annular groove on the outside, a support member contacting with said thimble at a plurality of spaced points and adapted for connection to an operatively associable member and means for securing said support member to said thimble at the contact points to produce a clevis which will withstand strains to which it may be subjected during use, said means including parts on said thimble and support member for mechanically interlocking the same together.

5. A clevis of the character defined by claim 1 in which said lugs extend radially inwardly from the convex surface of said thimble and are connected to the thimble by means of tapered transsition portions.

6. A clevis of the character defined by claim 1 in which the lugs extend laterally outwardly from the side of the thimble.

'7. A clevis of the character defined by claim 3 in which the mechanical interlock includes a pair of spaced apertures in the convex side of said thimble and a pair of lugs extending from the adjacent end of said support member through said apertures, the ends of the said lugs being deformed to prevent withdrawal from the apertures.

8. A clevis of the character defined by claim 3 in which the mechanical interlock includes a plurality of spaced struck-up portions on the convex side of said thimble and an equal number of lugs on the adjacent end of the support member extending through said struck-up portions and being deformed therebeyond to prevent withdrawal therefrom.

9. A clevis of the character defined by claim 3 in which the mechanical interlock includes a pair of apertured enlargements on the adjacent spaced ends of said thimble and a pair of L- shaped lugs the free ends of which extend through the said apertures.

10. A clevis of the character defined by claim 3 in which the mechanical interlock includes a pair of spaced openings in the adjacent spaced ends of said thimble and. a pair of initially straight U-shaped lugs on the contiguous end of said support member and interlocking with said thimble via said openings.

11. A pressed steel clevis of the character described which comprises a thimble of concavoconvex section with its annular groove on the outside, a support member contacting with said thimble at a plurality of spaced points and adapted 101' connection to an operatively associable member and means for securing said support member to said thimble at the contact points to produce a clevis which will withstand strains to which it may be subjected during use, the said thimble being substantially in the form of an annulus and being split at a point substantially in alignment with said contact points.

12. A pressed steel clevis of the character described which comprises a thimble of concavoconvex section with its annular groove on the outside, a support member contacting with said thimble at a plurality of spaced points and adapted for connection to an operatively associable member and means for securing said support member to said thimble at the contact points to produce a clevis which will withstand strains to which it may be subjected during use, the said thimble being substantially in the form of an annulus and being split at a point substantially in alignment with said contact points, the ends of the said annulus at the split being in abutting relationship.

13. A pressed steel clevis of the character described which comprises a thimble of concavoconvex section with its annular groove on the outside, a support member contacting with said thimble at a plurality of spaced points and adapted for connection to an operatively associable member and means for securing said support member to said thimble at the contact points to produce a clevis which will withstand strains to which it may be subjected during use; the said thimble being substantially in the form of an annulus and being split at a point substantially in alignment with said contact points, the ends of the said annulus adjacent the split being spaced apart and out of contact with each other.

14. A pressed steel clevis of the character described which comprises a thimble of concavoconvex section with its annular groove on the outside, a-support member contacting with said thimble at a plurality of spaced points and adapted for connection to an operatively associable member and means for securing said support member to said thimble at the contact points to produce a clevis which will withstand strains to which it may be subjected during use, the said thimble being of substantially D-shape.

15. A pressed steel clevis of the character described which comprises a thimble of concavoconvex section with its annular groove on the outside, a support member contacting with said thimble at a plurality of spaced points and adapted for connection to an operatively associable member and meansfor securing said support member to said thimble at the contact points to produce a clevis which will withstand strains to which it may be subjected during use, the said thimble being provided with a U-shaped cutaway portion at one of the said points of contact with said support member in which a tapered extension on said support member is adapted to be received.

16. A pressed steel clevis of the character described which comprises a thimble of concavoconvex section with its annular groove on the outside, a support member contacting with said thimble at a plurality of spaced points and adapted for connection to an operatively associable member and means for securing said support member to said thimble at the contact points to produce a clevis which will withstand strains to which it may be subjected during use, said support member being provided with a tapered extension and said thimble being provided with portions adapted to cooperate therewith for interocking purposes.

ANDREW A. HOCHER.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,252,566. August 12, 19t

ANDREW A. HOCHER.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, first column, line for "as" read has--; and that the said Letters Patent should be read'with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 25rd day of September, A. D. l9kl.

Henry Van Arsdale,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents 

